Pope Francis Monday started as it always did “ his alarm went off at 6am. Time for breakfast.

But in less than an hour, the pontiff had slipped into a coma. Moments before he did, he made a gesture of farewell to his nurse of 35 years, according to insiders.

By 7.35am, Francis had died at his Casa Santa Marta guesthouse. He had suffered a stroke followed by a coma and irreversible heart failure.

Last night, the cobble-stoned St Peters Square was filled with tens of thousands of mourners, some tearful.

Among them is Ana-Carolina Blas. I never got to see Francis in real life, she told Metro, so at least I can say goodbye.

Francis funeral will be Saturday, 10am Rome time.

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We are now closing this live blog. Here is what happened today:

The Popes body will be moved into the Basilica at 9am local time tomorrow morning for the traditional period of lying in state.

This is when the body is displayed in an open coffin for people to pay their respects before the funeral.

He will lie in state from 11am until midnight on Wednesday, from 7am until midnight on Thursday and Friday from 7am until 7pm.

Thank you for bringing me back to the Square.

This was possibly the final words spoken by Pope Francis before his death, the Vaticans news outlet reported today.

Francis was speaking with Massimiliano Strappetti, a nurse who has stayed by the popes side since 2022.

Just before one of his final public appearances “ in his wheelchair to bless the faithful in St. Peters Square on Easter Sunday “ Strappetti took the pope to the balcony of St. Peters Basilica.

Strappetti had encouraged Francis to greet the crowd “ and to get in the passenger seat of his Popemobile one final time.

Do you think I can do it? he asked her. Francis would ride around the square for 15 minutes, waving at the 50,000 who filled the area.

Before his death on Easter Monday, Pope Francis called for an end to the cycle of violence and retribution ripping apart the Middle East.

In an op-ed titled The bloodshed in Palestine/Israel must end, published posthumously in The Parliament today, the pontiff called for peace in the Holy Land and an end to Israels war in Gaza.

When the illusion of war has passed, only death, destruction and even greater problems remain, he wrote of a conflict that has claimed the lives of at least 51,000 Palestinians.

Weaving peace involves more time and more patience, but it is the only path to a better world.

He added: Unfortunately, all too often in human history, those who propose peace are looked upon as weak, while those who arm themselves to the teeth are presented with the allure of being strong and in charge. This is also a great illusion.

Francis had long shown sympathy for Palestinian suffering, often speaking over the phone to a small group of Christians huddling in the only Roman Catholic church in the scarred enclave.

Video released by Vatican News via Youtube showed the late Pope Francis on a video call with the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza. The Pope made this call every evening since October 9, two days after the bombing began in the Gaza strip. Palestinian Christians mourned the Popes death during a commemorative mass at a Catholic church in Gaza City. #pope #thepope #gaza #palestine #popefrancis #news

He reiterated his support for a two-state solution in which Palestinians and Israelis would coexist.

To both peoples and to the international community, I would say: God and future generations will judge us not by how many enemies we defeated, but by how many lives we saved, he added.

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Death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something. It is a new beginning.

Pope Francis wrote the above in February for the preface to Cardinal Angelo Scolas upcoming book, Italys national broadcaster RAI reports.

Eternal life, which those who love already experience on earth in the occupations of every day is starting something that will not end, Francis continues in the book, to be released Thursday

And it is precisely for this reason that it is a new beginning, because we will experience something that we have never fully experienced: eternity.

One of the final acts of Pope Francis was making a gesture of farewell with his hand to his nurse of three years, according to Vatican News.

The first signs of Francis health woes started at 5.30am, those who were with the pope in his final moments told the outlet.

An hour later, the pontiff made the gesture to his health assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, and fell into a coma.

He did not suffer, the outlet said. It all happened quickly.

Sky News is reporting that Pope Francis had been awake and fine for around an hour on Monday morning before suffering his medical emergency.

According to Vatican sources, an hour later, an emergency call was made for medical assistance and a police escort, both of which were cancelled shortly after due to a deterioration of his condition.

Kensington Palace said the decision on Prince Williams attendance at the Popes funeral is following government advice.

William, a future head of the Church of England, did not meet Pope Francis.

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The Prince of Wales is to attend the Popes funeral on behalf of the King, Kensington Palace said.

In the Popes hometown in Argentina, his local football team, San Lorenzo, has made a new shirt with the Popes face printed on it.

The Pope died at 88 years old at 2.35 am (5.35 am in Buenos Aires) “ and fans pointed out the Popes club membership number was 88235n-0.

The shirt will be worn on Saturdays match, which coincides with the Popes funeral.

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Unlike previous Popes, most of whom are buried in the Vatican, Pope Francis has asked to be buried in a nearby church.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was a place where Pope Francis often prayed in private to Saint Mary.

The building in Rome dates back to 432, and has gold-plated ceilings and stunning mosaics.

The Pope previously wrote: Ive always had a great devotion to St Mary Major, even before I became pope.

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The Popes body will lie for the public to see beginning tomorrow at 8 am UK time, with viewers able to see the Pope until midnight.

The visiting hours to see the Popes body on Wednesday will be from 7 am to midnight, and Friday from 7 am to 7 pm.

Though any Catholic man can technically become the next Pope, more than half of the worlds estimated 1.3 billion Catholics are women, but arent even in the running for the Papal position.

The reason why women cant become the Pope can be traced back to a simple reason: women cant become priests.

The man who becomes Pope must be a baptised Catholic, and a bishop, priest, cardinal, deacon or layman.

To learn more about what it takes to become the Pope, read here.

Downing Street has said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will attend the Popes funeral on Saturday.

The King, who met Francis earlier this month, said he was someone who had profoundly touched the lives of so many, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he had been a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten.

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